The Department of Agriculture (DA)  has begun distributing P20-per-kilo rice directly in Davao City barangays as part of its Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! program, aiming to reach low-income households more effectively.

The first distribution took place in Barangay Matina Crossing, led by assistant secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra with barangay officials and representatives from the National Food Authority and Food Terminal Inc. It was later extended to Barangay Tungkalan.

Guevarra emphasized the importance of local government involvement in ensuring rice reaches indigent families, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, minimum wage earners, and solo parents. She also highlighted the P20 Benteng Bigas Masterlist Registry System, which helps streamline validation and distribution.

“This is the perfect timing to further expand the P20 ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!’ Rice Project of the DA,” Guevarra said. “Our NFA warehouses are currently filled with rice stocks. By accelerating distribution at the barangay level, we are able to declog NFA warehouse facilities, enabling the agency to continue procuring palay from our local rice farmers. 

At the same time, the government is able to directly assist consumers, especially those in the vulnerable sectors, by providing affordable rice at P20 per kilo. It is a balanced approach that supports both our farmers and our people.”

DA secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the program fulfills president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to make rice more affordable.

“This is about delivering on the president’s commitment to make rice affordable for many financially-challenged Filipino household,” he said. “We are moving aggressively to expand this program so that as many as 60 million Filipinos can benefit from it this year—and we intend to sustain it until the end of the president Marcos’ term in June 2028.”